Education Minister Lee Ju-ho Vows to Maintain Medical School Standards Amid Quota Increase
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Loading... - Haoran Tang
- 16 Oct 2024
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Education Minister Lee Ju-ho has assured that the government will guarantee the quality of medical education despite concerns about the recent increase in medical school admissions quotas. The statement comes amid escalating tensions between the government and the medical community, which has resulted in mass resignations of trainee doctors in protest of the plan.
Quota Expansion to Address Doctor Shortage
Earlier this year, the government announced plans to increase the number of medical school seats by 1,500 in 2025, with a long-term goal of expanding the quota by 2,000 students per year over the next five years. The policy aims to address South Korea’s shortage of doctors, particularly in underserved regions and fields such as primary care.
However, the decision has sparked backlash from the medical community. Trainee doctors have staged walkouts since February, demanding the government reconsider the quota expansion and initiate discussions from scratch.
Commitment to Quality Education
In response to concerns that increasing enrollment might compromise the quality of medical education, Minister Lee emphasized in an interview with Yonhap News Agency that the government is committed to ensuring that educational standards will not decline. He stated that sufficient funds and faculty support have already been secured to accommodate the larger student body.
“Our priority is to make sure that the quality of education will remain intact despite the increased admissions,” Lee said.
Temporary Leave of Absence Policy
To ease tensions, the education ministry announced that medical students will be temporarily allowed to take a leave of absence this academic year, provided they return to their studies next year. This decision follows Seoul National University’s approval of leave requests from medical students who submitted them en masse in protest of the government’s reforms.
Lee framed the ministry’s decision as an “encouraging” step toward dialogue with the medical community to resolve the ongoing standoff. However, he warned that students who fail to return next year could face penalties, including expulsion.
While the government is pushing forward with its plan to increase the number of doctors, the standoff with trainee doctors highlights the need for collaboration and compromise between the two sides. Minister Lee’s assurances about maintaining the quality of education are intended to alleviate public concerns, but meaningful progress will likely depend on continued negotiations with the medical community.
